“You look like crap”

“Yeah, thanks, Will”, Brook said, coughing before blowing her nose into a tissue.

“Will, I think Brook’s going to have to stay home, she’s defiantly to sick to go to school today. So get you stuff, we’ll leave in a few minutes”, Maria said, packing her supplies into her suitcase before putting on a coat, and walking back into the kitchen.

“See yah later, Brook”, Will said, kissing her on the lips before following his mom out of the room.

“See yah”, Brook replied quietly, rolling over on the couch and falling back to sleep.

***

As Will sat in the passenger seat of Maria’s car, he looked out the window at the gray clouds forming over the city.

“I doubt you’ll have practice today, there’s gonna be one mother fucker of a storm coming in”, Maria said, not taking her eyes off the road.

“Yeah, look’s like it”, Will responded blankly.

“You okay? You’ve been quiet lately?”

“Yeah I know”, Will replied, “I guess I’m still a little shaken”

“I understand, Will. What happened with Rachel, Blane, and Sam was a lot to take in, I’m really sorry, Will”

“Thanks, mom”

“And I know that Lynn not being here is also hard”

“Yeah, but at least she didn’t die”, Will said sarcastically.

“True”, Maria laughed, “But I know that you and Lynn were close, I mean, not having her round has got to be hard too. I know she was one of your close friends”

“It is…she was”, Will said, still looking out the window.

Maria smiled, “And I know that being a boy means you’ll never admit to this, but I know that she was very close to you”

“She was”, Will said blankly.

“I noticed that you’re talking to Sierra Garcia”, Maria said mockingly, in a motherly way of course, “How do you think Brook feels about that?”

“Mom! You know that Sierra’s friends with Brook, that’s how we became friends in the first place. Besides, I think she’s dating Chucky Harland”

“The senior?”

“Yeah”

“Weird…I saw him with that one girl…you know what never-mind that”

“Okay?”, Will said, a little confused with his mother’s answer.

***

By lunch time, rain pelted San Diego, and Will looked out the window of the cafeteria, while he sat with Pierce, Haley, and a few other freshman named Drew, Casey, and Becca. Not paying attention, Will suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck, and embrace tightly.

“Will!” Sierra squealed, as she hugged him tightly.

“Sierra!” He yelled back.

“How’s my favorite freshman?” She continued, next sitting on his lap, still hugging his neck.

“Good”

“Why don’t you hug your big sister!” She cooed, rubbing up against him.

The other freshman at the table laughed at Sierra’s flamboyant greeting, but continued with their own conversation, as Will smiled and sat back in his chair.

Will was happy to be friends with Sierra, not only because of her kind and generous personality, but also Sierra was by no means bad to look at. Being of Mexican decent, Sierra had black, wavy hair and brown eyes. She also had tan skin, and a womanly shape with largish breasts and a round and firm butt, something Will took much notice to. Sierra was also about 5’4” and stood a few inches shorter than Will, who was about 5’8”.

As Sierra sat on Will’s lap, another sophomore, Lewis Malthus or “Louie”, came over to the table and sat down next to him.

Lewis, or Louie, was pretty handsome. Despite being 5’6, 125 pounds, and having a light boyish body, 16-year-old Louie also had swishy blond hair and blue eyes, with a surfer’s tan and a blemish free face. But Louie’s appearance was a defiant misnomer, for the young-looking teen was, without a doubt, a pot-head. Louie also was known to be one tough motherfucker, and on separate occasions, Louie was known to have kicked someone’s ass in a fight, though for the most part, Louie was docile, and somewhat weak, benching only about 80 lb.’s, as opposed to Will’s 110.

“Hey guys”, Louie said, sitting next to Will and Sierra, “Will, did Sierra tell you about saturday? Gary’s party? Oh man, that was some shit!”

Will laughed, as well as Pierce and Haley, who leaned towards the conversation.

“Louie, you where so fucking drunk I couldn’t believe it! that was some night”

“Have you ever drank?” Louie asked, turning to face Pierce, who shook his head, “What about smoked?” Pierce shook his head again, “Damn! Your grade is no sheltered!”

“Will’s been drunk before”, Haley chimed in, “Right, Will?” she said, giving him a look.

“AH! My little brother’s drinking!” Sierra yelled, grabbing Will and rubbing up against him.

“It was once! And I don’t know whose party it was!”

“Was it the one were Blane got sent to the hospital?” Louie asked, suddenly feeling guilty for his comment after seeing the emerging sadness in Will’s eyes, “Oh…sorry, Will”

“It’s cool”, Will said, “And yah, it was that party”

“Damn!” Sierra spoke up, “That’s one of Tyson Landers’ parties! You guys were invited to an intense party!”

“His brother Ed was a party animal too! But he’s what, a freshman in college this year, right?”

“Yeah”, Sierra spoke up, “I remember that he and Blane…oh”, Sierra paused, catching herself as she mentioned Blane’s name.

Haley, seeing that talking about the parties reminded Will of Blane, changed the conversation.

“Did you guys ever drink?